Report: Tennessee improperly paid out $1.47M in health benefits

Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times Free Press
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Aug 29, 2013 at 10:08 PM

NASHVILLE — Tennessee unnecessarily paid out $1.47 million in health benefits during 2012 for 24 people whom state auditors say weren't eligible to be in the state's high-risk health insurance pool for the uninsurable.

Twelve enrollees were found to be eligible for the federal Medicare program for seniors and thus shouldn't have been allowed to join the state's AccessTN program, which serves those unable to find health coverage, the audit states.

The audit, performed by Comptroller Justin Wilson's State Audit Division, examined a number of programs and procedures in the state's Department of Finance and Administration.

Among them was the effectiveness of state oversight of eligibility verification in the state's AccessTN program, which is administered under contract with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.